Bhubaneswar: The average monthly income of agricultural households in Odisha is ₹5,112, as per data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), revealed Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the state Assembly on Wednesday.
Responding to a question by Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, Singh Deo shared insights into the financial status of the state’s agricultural households and key details about the cost and support for paddy production.
The Deputy CM highlighted that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for common paddy for the 2024-25 fiscal year has been set at ₹2,300 per quintal. The Odisha government provides an additional ₹800 per quintal, raising the total effective support price to ₹3,100 per quintal.
According to the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), the cost of paddy production in the state stands at ₹2,067 per quintal. However, Singh Deo did not provide specific details differentiating costs for irrigated and non-irrigated lands, as sought by the MLA.
Bahinipati had raised concerns about the financial wellbeing of agricultural households and the challenges faced in paddy cultivation, particularly regarding the disparity between production costs and income. Singh Deo emphasized the government’s efforts to support farmers through enhanced MSP and other welfare schemes.
The figures shed light on the economic challenges faced by Odisha’s farming community, where average incomes remain modest despite government interventions. The issue underscores the need for sustained policy measures to bolster agricultural earnings and ensure equitable growth for rural households.
As the Assembly deliberates on these concerns, the government’s commitment to addressing farmers’ welfare remains a critical priority for Odisha’s development agenda.
